Waimakariri supporting cyclone recovery
By David Hill, local democracy reporter
The Waimakariri District Council is providing ongoing support following the cyclone in the North Island.
Mayor Dan Gordon says his council is continuing to provide support to the Wairoa District Council as part of Local Government New Zealand’s (LGNZ) Adopt-a-Community campaign.
Council staff and civil defence volunteers also spent time in Auckland and Hawkes Bay in the aftermath of the Cyclone Gabrielle and the flood events.
"We made a considerable contribution, recognising that we too were supported in our time of need after the Canterbury earthquakes.
"There will be ongoing support for Wairoa, including a donation."
In all, nine emergency operations staff spent a combined 128 days in Auckland and Hawke's Bay.
The council also sent three building inspectors and seven NZRT12 civil defence volunteers to Auckland after the cyclone and flood events.
"I acknowledge the contribution they made with time out from their families and the NZRT12 volunteers who did it in their own personal time," Gordon said.
Wairoa mayor Craig Little said his district has been overwhelmed with the generosity and support it has received in the aftermath of the cyclone.
He said the support received through the Adopt-a-Community campaign has been particularly "humbling".
Six mayors and councils have reached out to show their support for Wairoa, including Gordon.
The other mayors included Tory Whanau (Wellington), David Moore (Ōpōtiki), Phil Nixon (South Taranaki), Craig Rowley (Waimate) and Tania Gibson (Grey District).
"The Mayors have been driving these initiatives and encouraging donations to their adopted community’s Mayoral Relief Fund," Little said.
"It is so great that these councils have been there for us, they know how difficult our recovery is and the fact they are supporting us is really reassuring."
Little said more than $500,000 from the Wairoa Mayoral Relief Fund has been distributed to those in need.
The priority was to support people to get back into their homes and supporting community, businesses and farms to rebuild.
He said he could not thank the councils enough for their support and financial contributions.
"It is not until you go through a disaster like this that you appreciate the help you receive from other councils and organisations and realise how vital that support is."
Wairoa is a north Hawke's Bay town, between Napier and Gisborne.
Poll: Do you think banning gang patches is reasonable?
With the government cracking down on gangs, it is now illegal for gang members to display their insignia in public places whether through clothing or their property.
This means arrests can be made if these patches are worn in places like restaurants, shops, on public transport or ferries, and on airplanes. Arrests were made recently at a funeral.
Do you think this ban is reasonable?
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77.3% Yes
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21.8% No
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0.9% Other - I'll share below
Canterbury kura expansion finally begins
By David Hill, Local Democracy Reporter
There is a sense of relief at Waimakariri’s only Māori immersion school, as work on its expansion finally begins.
Te Kura o Tuahiwi, which sits between Kaiapoi and Rangiora, is set to receive six new classrooms and a new hall to support its growing school roll.
Board of trustees chairperson Charlie Agi said the build has taken years of planning.
Work had been due to get under way last December, but was put on hold while the Ministry of Education reviewed 352 building projects.
‘‘It has come a long way,’’ Agi said.
‘‘To see the work of past members of the board have put in to get to this point, it is amazing. It is awesome.
‘‘The board has shown some resilience to keep pushing.’’
Ministry of Education spokeswoman Sandra Orr said the new classrooms include four for roll growth and the replacement of two classrooms.
The classrooms are being manufactured offsite and will be open for the beginning of term two next year, with the hall due to open in term four.
Principal Dot Singh said the delays have been frustrating, but she is excited for her tamariki to have new classrooms.
‘‘When I came in (two years ago) we were doing the planning and then we were told they were changing the plans, and then it was going ahead - and then it stopped,’’ Singh said.
She said she then wrote a two-page letter to the ministry and to Education Minister Erica Stanford to emphasis the school’s special character.
The school is the only kura between Christchurch and Kaikōura ‘‘to meet the needs of whānau who want immersion and bilingual education’’.
The kura has a roll of 179 pupils, with another 22 already pre-enrolled for this term and the beginning of next year.
The hall is designed to hold 250 people, meaning the kura will finally be able to hold full school assemblies, prizegivings and indoor sports.
‘‘Our tamariki love basketball,’’ Singh said.
The kura regularly supports the marae across the road by hosting people on site before they are welcomed on to the marae.
‘‘When the Māori Queen visited last month, they all assembled here before they went over to the marae.’’
Having the hall will provide the option of hosting visitors indoors, and allowing sports to continue in the winter and when it is raining, she said.
Singh said the extra space will also allow the kura to offer a Te Puna Reo group (pre-school) for 4-year-olds to help them to prepare for school.
■ LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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